Louisiana to receive $161.4 million for Terrebonne Basin Barrier Island System

November 19, 2018

Today, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards with Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority announced an award of $161.4 million from The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) to fund Louisiana projects that support restoration of the Terrebonne Basin barrier island system: West Belle Headland, Timbalier Island and Trinity Island.

“This is another significant project to help restore damages incurred by the BP oil spill, said Gov. Edwards. “Investing in Louisiana’s critical barrier island chain will also help protect citizens living in the vicinity of Terrebonne and Timbalier Bays.”

The projects were developed in consultation with state and federal resource agencies and are designed to remedy harm and reduce the risk of future harm to natural resources that were affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“One of the primary goals of the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund is to provide lasting and future benefits to types of natural resources impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF in a statement issued today.

NFWF reports this is the sixth round of awards from the GEBF and nearly $1.3 billion dollars awarded, or more than half of available funds. To date, NFWF has awarded more than $625 million to 13 projects in Louisiana.

“Restoring this barrier island system is another great example of how Louisiana continues to work at an unprecedented scale to provide increased protection for interior communities and critical infrastructure,” said Johnny Bradberry, CPRA Board Chair.

The new projects were selected for funding following extensive consultation with Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

In total, NFWF announced more than $280 million in awards from its Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF) to 21 new projects in Alabama, Florida,Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. NFWF administers the Fund, which supports projects to remedy harm and eliminate or reduce the risk of harm to Gulf Coast natural resources affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Louisiana’s amount represents 57% of the total amount awarded.

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Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is the single state entity with authority to develop, articulate, implement, and enforce a comprehensive coastal protectionand restoration Master Plan of unified vision to reduce hurricane storm surge flood impact, to restore our bountiful natural resources, to build land to protect our nation’s critical energy infrastructure, and to secure Louisiana’s coast now and for future generations.